Final answer:
Stories are seen as reflections of the society from which they originate, encapsulating both positive and negative societal aspects. Literature reflects the social construction of reality and is influenced by historical events and cultural dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indeed, to a social critic, stories can be seen as reflections of the social system from which they originate. Literature often captures both the positive and negative aspects of a society, including values such as love and justice as well as societal issues like discrimination, racism, and sexism. This idea is ingrained in New Historicism Criticism, which questions how literature reflects the aspirations of different social classes and the historical context that may inform character motivations.
Understanding a story's background can be crucial. For instance, while some of Shakespeare's commentary made sense in his era, the meanings may not be as clear to modern audiences without knowledge of that time period. Additionally, works by playwrights like Ionesco, Genet, and Beckett post-World War II encapsulate the psychological aftermath of a significant historical event.
During the 1960s, the counterculture movement led to an increased desire to challenge societal norms and prompted a reevaluation of history as made by all people, not just elites. The transition in societal dynamics, along with the revolutionary ideas on the social construction of reality by sociologists such as Berger and Luckmann, allowed for new interpretations of literature, suggesting that stories are indeed molded by the social fabric of their times.